Nottingham is to invest £3m on solar energy projects to save money and make the city greener.

Nottingham City Council expects to spend the cash over the next five years, putting in solar panels on the roofs of council properties such as Sneinton’s Victoria Leisure Centre.

It already owns more than 40 solar systems generating 1,200,000kwh per year and is now looking to solar power to meet its energy demands.

The council claims this has reduced its yearly energy bill by more than £90,000 and it hopes this investment will help it save even more, as well as meet the city’s target of 20% renewable energy consumption by 2020.